cy, because, for the place and calling I am in, I must give a stricter account unto thee. Look, therefore, upon me, O Lord--But not till thou hast nailed my sins to the cross of Christ-Not till thou hast bathed me in the blood of Christ-Not till I have hid myself in the wounds of Christ—that so the punishment which should else overtake me, may pass over me.Then look, and say unto my soul," have forgiven thee." And by the work of thy mercy in my soul, make me to feel it, through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour!-Amen. Lond. Ev. Mag. for 1807.

THE SABBATH DAY.

It is admitted by every Christian in our land, that one of the most prevalent, and heaven daring sins, is Sabbath breaking, and Sabbath contempt. Ought not every Christian magistrate to bestir himself? Ought not every private Christian to do the utmost that in him lies, to put down this heaven provoking sin? Ought not each religious denomination to unite with their fellow Christians, in forming a strong phalanx, to oppose this national sin, which is about to be so pregnant with judgments from heaven upon our cities, and the land. When we converse on this subject and when we denounce it from the pulpit-every Christian says It is even so-something ought to be done. If so, why might not this something be done now. Every evil waxes worse and worse when not faithfully and manfully checked.

We willingly give publicity to the following Resolutions on the observance of the Sabbath by the Episcopal, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, in Louisville, Kentucky.

"1. Resolved, that every virtuous and good man consider his own example important in this great work, and that therefore he will, by his own conduct and influence, promote the

sanctification of the Sabbath, and discourage its profanation, by giving a decided preference, in all the concerns of life, to those who keep the Sabbath, above those who habitually violate its claims.

2. Resolved, That all the heads of families, who do not restrain their children, and those under their control, from labour, pleasures, amusements and neglect of the duties of the Sabbath, are violating their sacred obligations to their country and their

God.

3. Resolved, That it is the duty of all civil officers, whether of the United States, or state governments-of all the officers of the church-of all legislators, and of all good men, to guard the Sabbath from violations-that they ought to prevent the carrying and opening of the mail on that day-the driving of mail coaches, wagons, carriages, hacks and drays, employed either in commerce or trading the starting on journeys

driving of stock to market-fishing, swimming, hunting, and other amusements, contrary to the design of this day; day; as also keeping open any gambling, or tippling houses-because all such things are a direct violation of the law of God, from whose law no human authority, or law

can exonerate.

4. Resolved, That no person shall be considered worthy of a vote for places of trust, or profit in the government, who is known habitually to violate the Sabbath. If he disregards the principles of piety, he ought not to be trusted with the sacred rights of the community; and no man should

vote for him when another choice can be had.

5. Resolved, That Associations ought to be formed throughout the United States, corresponding with these principles, in which all Christians, of every name, should unite as one man, to give aid to good citizens, whether in public or private life, who may not profess religion, so that public sentiment, and public practice, on the subject of the Sabbath, may tend to the removal of the divine displeasure from our favoured country."

And the following appeal, on the same subject, from the "Boston Recorder and Telegraph," has so much good sense in it, that we have been induced to subjoin it.

To the Hon. Senate and House of Representatives, and to the truly serious Christians of all denominations.

THE HUMBLE PETITION OF SABBATH DAY, SHEWETH:

That your Petitioner is of very ancient and honourable extraction; being created immediately after the world and man were formed; and that immediately after his formation, he was blessed and sanctified by his Creator* That your Petitioner was highly honoured, many thousand years after his creation, insomuch that a man who presumed to degrade him by gathering a few sticks, was put to death without mercy,†--That a blessing, was promised to all who gave due honour to your Petitioner‡That your Petitioner continued to be honoured and esteemed till within a few years past--That since that period your Petitioner has been gradually deprived of the honour due unto him, notwithstanding the promises,

* Gen. ii. 3.

† Num. xv. 36. t Isaiah lviii. 13.

and threatenings held out to those who shall honour or dishonour him,— That your Petitioner is now held in so little estimation, that he is obliged by the rich to serve them, for routs, concerts, and other fashionable amusements; by some, for printing newspapers, and selling them; by some, for keeping open shop, and selling various articles; by some, for driving cattle to market; by some, for working on their gardens and farms; by some, for driving, and travelling in stage coaches; by some, for posting up their books and settling their accounts; by some, for parties on the water; by a vast number, for administering to their pleasures; and many other degrading employments, for which your Petitioner was by no means created-That for these things great wrath, and judgments may be expected, and that by dishonouring your Petitioner, many persons have come to an untimely end-That your Petitioner is grieved to the heart to see such vast numbers of people obnoxious to the wrath and displeasure of an omnipotent God, by the dishonour they cast on your Petitioner.That a short time ago exertions were made to endeavour to restore to your petitioner, the honour he has been deprived of; but that no visible effects have appeared to follow.-Therefore your Petitioner humbly prays that you will take his case into your most serious consideration; and that you will use your utmost endeavours to restore to him that honour of which he has been so unjustly deprived, and thereby avert the divine displeasure which now hangs over this nation for these things.--And your Petitioner, &c. &c.-SABBATH DAY.

which also foreign churches of similar principles may send delegates. Such a Synod has not been held since that of Dordrecht, in the years 1618, 1619. By the 50th article of the rules of government, which that Synod adopted, it was directed that a General Synod should meet every three years; but not without the approbation of the supreme authority of the land. This article, however, has never been carried into effect, either because the magistracy have withheld consent, or the Church has not requested it.The original manuscripts of the acts of the Synod of Dort being put in the possession of the States General, they, as early as 1625, resolved, that that manuscript should every three years be inspected by delegates from their body, and from the provincial Synods jointly. In the year 1637, a new translation of the Bible was undertaken by order of their High Mightinesses, and according to a resolution of the Synod of Dort, was finished. A printed copy, examined by the translators and the visitors, and corrected in the margin, was deposited for preservation in the State House, in Leyden. This copy is inspected at the same time with the acts of the Synod of Dort. The ceremony is as follows:Every third year, in the month of May, twenty-one ministers, deputed from the provincial Synods, repair to the Hague. The Walloon Synod also sends one. These twoand-twenty ministers being met in the Klooster Kerk, in the Hague, a prayer is offerd up by one of the ministers of the place, who is generally a member of the assembly. After the credentials are read, a president and secretary are chosen, and the acts of the last meeting of this body, which is called the Catus of the Hague, are read. In the mean time the ministers have given notice of their arrival to the president of the assembly of the States general. A letter is also despatched to the magistracy of Leyden, informing them of the arrival of the ministers at the Hague.

When formed, the Cœtus, with their president and secretary at their head, repair in procession, two by two, to the court. Being introduced to their High Mightinesses, the president delivers a suitable address, in which he recommends to the States, the Churches at home and abroad, and requests the inspection of the Synodical acts. The president of their High Mightinesses in reply, praises the zeal of the clergy, and grants the request. After this they return to the Church, and register the resolution of their High Mightinesses.

The

next day, at the appointed time, they repair again to the court, and are led into the Treves chamber, where they are welcomed by two delegates of their High Mightinesses. These place themselves at the upper end of a long table, in armed chairs: the president, secretary, and other ministers seat themselves also, according to the rank of the

provinces to which they belong. One of them offers up a prayer, wherein he thanks God for purifying the Church, through means of the Synod, and prays that the Acts of the same, may be found inviolate now, as they were three years before. The chest fitted for the preservation of these Acts, and placed in the Treves chamber, is then opened with eight several keys.. The Acts, which are neatly bound up in seventeen volumes, are taken out, and shown first to the delegates of their High Mightinesses, and then to the ministers. After this inspection, a prayer is again offered up, and the whole ceremony concludes with a dinner, of which the clergy partake together at their own expense. The day after this, the delegates of their High Mightinesses, and all the ministers, proceed in two government yachts to Leyden, where they go to the Tower. The magistracy, informed of their arrival, send a burgomaster, accompanied by a secretary, or pensionary, to welcome them, and conduct them to the State House. The delegates of their High Mightinesses are received in the burgomaster's chamber, and the ministers in the common council chamber. In the last mentioned room, is shown to both the delegates and ministers, with some of the magistracy of Leyden, the corrected translation of the Bible, the notes concerning the order, and manner of said translation, and some acts of the translator's, all of which are kept there in a chest. Secretary of the city, and first Regent of the States College, open the chest, each with a key. Before and after the inspection, a prayer and thanksgiving are offered up.--The whole assembly, after this, are conducted to the tower, and there entertained handsomely, at the expense of their High Mightinesses. Whilst at dinner, a city messenger comes in, who knocks on a silver bason, and afterwards offers to the delegates of the States, in behalf of the city, eight canns of Rhenish wine, this being the remains of an old custom. In place of this gift, the two delegates take, out of respect to the city, each of them fifty guilders, which they, however, give to the city messengers, and other servants. After the dinner, they all return to the Hague, where the Secretary of the Cetus records, that the inspected articles are sound, uninjured by worms, moth, or mice! The delegates of the States having given an account of their doings, the ministers are thanked for their trouble, and shortly after return home.

(To be continued.)

The

He that putteth a Bible into the hands of a child, gives him more than a kingdom; for it gives him a key to the kingdom of Heaven.

*A College at which Students for the Ministry or Schools are educated.